Hyderabad has its own little beach by the side of famous Hussainsagar lake. It is the venue for the ninth senior beach volleyball championship. Players, who have seen the nationals being organised at seaside locations, say Hyderabad is almost like the real thing. "Because of the monsoon winds, you feel as if you are playing on the beach and also because of the lake. Otherwise, the fun of beach volleyball would be lost," said a player.
"Obviously natural beaches are something different but this is as good. We don't really feel that difference especially because it is very windy like at a sea coast and of course the sand is also there," said another participant.
Thrilled with the response, the Andhra Pradesh Beach Volleyball Players Association, which is organising the tournament has asked the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority to lease the land to them.
"It would definitely be a regular feature. We hope to conduct to Asian Circuit Beach Volleyball Championship in Hyderabad itself in 2007," said Madhav, a member of the Beach Volleyball Players Association. It will be all action and a lot of play at the court till Saturday with 44 men's teams and 14 women's teams competing for the top honours.
